Town Square

Gaza Tragedy

Original post made
by Tej Uberoi, Los Altos,
on Jan 27, 2008

Despite the media's blatant efforts to put a positive spin on the medieval blockade of Gaza, the facts speak for themselves. Since its inception, Israel has driven out the indigenous people from their homes at the barrel of a gun. Their homes have been demolished and the basic source of income from their land has been destroyed. A million-and-a half refugees are now residing in Gaza and find themselves locked in a giant prison without food, electricity, medicine and are being subjected to a daily bombing barrage which has killed 30 (mainly civilians) in four days. To subject a population to such brutal collective punishment is a clear violation of international law and borders on genocide. The people of Gaza are on the point of starvation. Many civilians, including men, women and children have died at health clinics because of lack of medical supplies. In an act of utter desperation, the wall separating Gaza and Egypt was breached allowing its citizens to replenish their household goods. As award winning Israeli journalist Gideon Levy (a fierce critic of Israel's occupation), explained "when you try to make an experiment in human beings, putting them into a huge cage for months and months, you can't expect that they will not do anything possible to find a way out." It is time for all Americans to demand an immediate halt of our tax dollars which is funding Israel's maniacal occupation and state sponsored terrorism.

Posted by perspective
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 28, 2008 at 7:28 am

Amazing...it is EGYPT's wall, but still it is Israel's fault.

Somehow tiny little Israel absorbed all the Jews kicked out of Arab countries over the years, but all the Arab countries put together have never been able to absorb an equal number of Muslims who, and I won't argue about why, left Israel.

Posted by Boaz
a resident of Greater Miranda
on Jan 28, 2008 at 7:53 am

Hamas continues to shell rockets with Israel on a daily basis and then blames Israel when they try to stop this outrage.
The UN, whose incompetence speaks for itself, makes demands of israel regarding the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza, while disregarding Israel's right to live without the constant attacks by Hamas.
Anyone with intelligence can put one and one together here--Hamas is purposely provoking Israel with the shellings and then complains that Gaza is being punished unfairly. What other country would be expected to put up with these acts of war??
Unfortunately kofi Annan and his stooges at the UN have fallen for this ploy, while the citizens of gaza are too stupid to realize that they are being used as pawns by their own Hamas leadership.
If the Hamas leadership is willing to subject their citizens to starvation, then so be it (though thi sis not really the case--food is available in Gaza--it is cheaper in Egypt--the "starvation" argument is another cynical ploy by Hamas to win world sympathy). I look forward to seeing the starved bodies of the citizens of Gaza littering the streets.
In the meantime the Israeli government is to be commended for not giving in to this extortion attempt by the terrorists of Hamas

Posted by Astounded and Disgusted
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Is anyone reading this thread trying to understand the SUBSTANCE of Mr. Uberoi's post? Can you put your political biases and hatreds aside for just a while and try to comprehend the horrific humanitarian situation he's writing about? Can you put your certainties and your simplicities aside for just long enough to empathize with fellow human beings -- not "Muslims," not "Hamas members" -- but real, living (though some haven't been so lucky), suffering, starving human beings? Even if you think that Israel is not the culprit here, must you always view the people of Gaza as not entitled to be treated like human beings, as deserving of any cruelty and suffering they are forced to endure? You people need to search your souls.

And PA Online, where are you? "Put down the crack pipe" -- that meets your criteria of appropriate use of this site?

Posted by Boaz
a resident of Greater Miranda
on Jan 28, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Astounded and Disgusted-- the residents of Gaza will be treated as human beings when they act as human beings. What is Israel supposed to do--just sit still while Hamas shells Israel non-stops and then whines about "collective punishment"?
Get real--Hamas continues to call for Israel's destruction and is using it's citizens as pawns in this game. as long as the citiznes of Gaza put up with the Hamas leadership games of destruction, they will continue to suffer.
Hamas needs to search their souls and realize what suffering they are causing their people--until that time, I have no sympathy for the citizens of Gaza and their continued "suffering" does n ot effect me at all.

Posted by perspective.
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 28, 2008 at 4:33 pm

This is not "political"..it is "reality". A country can not be blamed for doing everything possible to stop the bombs from coming in. Yes, many innocent people suffer...and frankly I cry when I think of them and imagine their lives...AND...I cry for the innocent Israelis, Muslim and Jewish, who suffer at the hands of the suicide bombers and bombings coming, unprovoked, over the Israeli border.

When those outside of Israel lay down their arms, there will be instant peace.

Posted by Tired of the Lies
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 29, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Who voted for Hamas?
The Palestinians!

Who is now causing the damage in Gaza?
HAMAS!

It's the Palestinan's own fault. I agree that the situation there is dire, but don't blame Israel for it.

And Tej Uberoi, when will you stop posting your anti-israel rants? Just about every week, I see another one of your letters in the paper or a new thread online. (I'm not making this up... search for him online and see for yourself.) GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT!

Posted by Marty Cohen
a resident of Stanford
on Jan 30, 2008 at 10:58 am

It is a pity that the comments on this important issue are so hurtful and strident. Israel has unleashed a war of terror since its founding. Land theft is an act of terror. Home demolations are an act of terror. Preventing people at checkpoints going to school and medical clinics is an act of terror. Collective punishment for the actions of a few is an act of terror. Why is our government funding acts of terror and by so doing diverting funding from our domestic programs? Google to 'Mearsheimer and Walt' and you find the answer!

Posted by perspective
a resident of Midtown
on Jan 30, 2008 at 11:04 am

I am learning from Gary that the only thing to do is to ad nauseum repeat the facts everytime there is an ad nauseum repetition of propoganda.

As soon as "the few" of Hamas and/or Hezbollah stop terrorising Israel, Israel will stop needing to respond. As soon as "the few" stop hiding amongst innocent women and children, the innocent women and children will stop suffering.